Clonmel World Music is delighted to present two very special nights of Irish trad music, song, dance and storytelling in Clonmel and Fethard on Friday October 11 and Saturday October 12.
Friday night will showcase the best of Irish traditional music in Clonmel, and Saturday night will have a feast of Irish song, dance and stories in Fethard
Jackie Daly & Matt Cranitch, will perform in Jerry Moynihans in Clonmel on Friday October 11, are acknowledged masters of the rich musical tradition of Sliabh Luachra in the southwest of Ireland. This culturally unique area on the Cork/Kerry border is renowned for its distinctive style of playing and special repertoire of tunes, and has been for many years a source of inspiration for both Jackie and Matt.
In both their performances and on their recordings, they draw upon this rich legacy.
Jackie and Matt have performed throughout the world, individually and with groups who have set the standard for Irish traditional music. They have established enviable personal reputations. Their playing together, on CD and in live performances, displays not only virtuosity, but their respect, love and deep understanding of this vibrant musical tradition.
In addition to their own individual recordings, they have made two albums together: The Living Stream and Rolling On. Both of these CDs feature a wide range of tunes, old and new, from slides and polkas to reels and airs, played in the wonderfully expressive manner for which Jackie and Matt are justly famous.
Jackie Daly
The words ‘Button Accordion’ and ‘Jackie Daly’ are synonymous in the world of Irish traditional music. Described in the New York Times as “probably the best accordionist in Ireland”, Jackie was born in Kanturk, Co. Cork, where he grew up surrounded by the rich music tradition of Sliabh Luachra. One of the greatest influences on his early musical development was Ballydesmond fiddle-player, Jim O’Keeffe, a pupil of the famous Sliabh Luachra fiddle-master, Pádraig O’Keeffe. Over the years, Jackie’s lifelong affinity with fiddle-music has resulted in highly-acclaimed albums featuring fiddle and accordion – with the late Cork-based musician Séamus Creagh, with Kevin Burke, with Máire O’Keeffe, and now with Matt Cranitch. Jackie was a central figure in some of the most dominant groups playing Irish music in recent times.
His performances throughout the world with bands such as De Danann, Patrick Street, Buttons and Bows, Arcady, Reel Union and Kinvara all attest to his wonderful music and versatility. However, it is the style and repertoire of the Sliabh Luachra tradition that has made the most significant impression on his accordion-playing, a fact well exemplified by his performances and recordings. He was honoured in 2005 with the TG4 Gradam Ceoil Award. Also, he has received the Kanturk Arts Festival Award in 2009, M.J. Quill Irish Cultural Center (NY) Award in 2014, and the Patrick O’Keeffe Traditional Music Festival (Castleisland) Award in 2019.
Matt Cranitch
Matt Cranitch is renowned as a fiddle-player and teacher, both at home in Ireland and abroad. He has performed extensively at concerts and festivals, on radio and television, and has presented lectures, master-classes and workshops on various aspects of Irish music. He has won All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil titles, as well as The Fiddler of Dooney and Oireachtas Crotty Cup. Author of The Irish Fiddle Book, first published in 1988 and now in its fourth edition, he has also contributed to other books on Irish traditional music.
He has made various albums, including those with Na Filí, Any Old Time and Sliabh Notes, in addition to Éistigh Seal which consists entirely of slow airs. He is an authority on the music of Sliabh Luachra, and received a PhD from the University of Limerick for his study on the fiddle-playing tradition of this region.
He has taught a number of courses in Irish traditional music during various years at University College Cork. A long-time consultant for the Geantraí series on TG4 (Irish-language TV), he is a former adviser to the Irish Arts Council scheme for the traditional arts, and has served on the board of the Irish Traditional Music Archive.
He has received various accolades, including: University College Cork Hall of Fame Award in 2003; M.J. Quill Irish Cultural Center (NY) Award in 2014; Patrick O’Keeffe Traditional Music Festival (Castleisland) Award in 2017.
The Booley House
Clonmel World Music is delighted to bring “The Booley House” Show to Tipperary at the Abymill Theatre in Fethard on Saturday October 12.
Resident Seanachaí James Lenane is a well known personality, All-Ireland winner in his field, and is sure to have you laughing as he regales times past.
“The Booley House” also includes the famed Michael Ryan School of Irish Dance, which encompass a wonderful range of original step dancing routines that always generate enthusiastic audience response.
Local Set Dance teacher, Tom Hyland , will have his dancers doing Irish sets, often exciting audience members to dance in the aisles. A recent innovation to the show is the introduction of brush dancers, which have proved to be a showstopper.
A number of former Booley House dancers from this school have continued to have successful careers performing in Riverdance, Lord of the Dance, and other well-known shows.
The musicians provide a unique sound performing on traditional instruments, which has been the hallmark of “The Booley House” since the start.
Our musicians currently include nationally renowned artists Tony Dunne, Claire Fennell, Seán O’Fearghail John Joseph O Donovan & J.J Cooley.
We are proud to have singers Becky Fennesey Amy Kenneally & Stacy Cronin to complete our cast.
In ancient Ireland a booley house was a single room dwelling built of stone in remote mountain areas. It was a simple dwelling with a heather roof, a small window and a doorway. Small farmers who had herded their cattle from the lowlands to avail of the Summer grazing occupied these dwellings in the Summer months.
Our ancestors built many of these booley Houses on nearby mountain ranges such as the Knockmealdowns and the Galtees.
In 1991, the local drama society along with Ballyduff Comhaltas decided to introduce a Summer show as a fundraiser to improve local amenities.
The show included a strong element of traditional entertainment and so came to be christened “The Booley House”.
Since then the show has gone from strength to strength, incorporating more variety and talent year after year.
Tickets
Doors for both shows will open at 7pm, and the shows will start at 8pm prompt.
Tickets For both shows are available on www. clonmelworldmusic.com, or from Gerry Lawless on 086 3389619.